Equalizer.



E. WAGNER.

EQUALIZER. APPLICATIONTILED SEPT.27. 1916.

Patened Sept. 11, 1917.

EDWIN'WAGNER, oF MOLALLA, OREGON.

EQUALIZER.

Application fi1ed September 27, 1916.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be 1t known thai; I, EDWIN VVAGNER, a

ctizen of the United States, resding artjuster and more partcularly to the class Of draft equalizers.

The prnnary ob ect of themvent1on 1s the prov1s1on of a dev1ce of th1s chzuraoter wherein the whiffletree can=be readily and convenientlyadjustedwith d'espatoh so as to vary the draft of the loztd 130 either side of the neutra-1 line of draft, thereby enabling the strain or pul-l to be equalzed where the draft animals of unequal strength are hitched to the load.

Another object of the nvention is the provison ofm defioe of-this character Wheren the construction thereofs novel-in form so locked positon Wll serve to equalze the strain or pul1 of theload.

A further object of the inventon s rhe prmson of a devce of this character whrclr s extremely simple in oonstructon and thoroughly relable end effic1entnI-r 1ts operaton, strong, -durableand nexpensve in mnnufaoturng and installaton.

Otherobjects wllbenpartobfious and in pari: heren after pontecl out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of constructon, combnaton of ele ments and arrangement of parts Whch Will be exemplfied in the constructon hereinafter set forth and the scope of the applicaton of which will bendicated inthe clams hereunto appended.

In the accompanyng drawngs:

Figure 1 is a perspectve view of the whffletree showing the device constructed in accordance with the invention appled thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontally longitudinal sectional vew thereof.

Fig. 3 s a seetonal view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertoal transverse seotional view of the whiffletree showing the devce released from its rack-bar.

Similar reference characters indicate cor- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patel1tecl Sept. M, 1917.

Serial No. 122,502.

respondng parts throughout the several views in the drawng.

Referring to the drzrwng in detail, A designates generally a whiffletree which s of any well known constructon end has applied thereto the device hereinafter fully desorbecb The devioe co1nprises 2L flat bar 5 formed 1nedallythereofthroughoub its longtudnal extent wth 2L series of nset rack-teeth 6 while at opposite ends of the sad bar are formed perforated ears 7 through whoh are passedsuitable fasteners or securng the bar5 to the front edge of the whiffletree A,

ntermediate the ends tbereof. Of course t s to beunderstood thnt this bar 5 can be formed integral wth the whffletree A or can be w separa-te pari; therefrom end fastened thereto in anysutable manner as the occasion 1nzry require.

Slidable upo1rthe front or outer foce of the bar 5 s 2111 adjustable hangerblock 8 or the conformation es shown although it may beof any other desirable shape ancltbis block s formed at opposite ends wth guideears 9 whch engage ingude grooves 10 frmed in the opposite longer edges of the rack-bar 5 zmd in this manner the said block Ss sldably connected to the bar 5 for free movement thereon, whereby che sad block can be postoned at any point between the ends of the bar, for a purpose presently descrbed; I

Formel in the block 8, spaced from the ends thereof are suitable gudeways in whch worklocking members 11 wh-oh are ad-apted to engagewth -the raclbteeth -6 on the bar5 for holding the blook 8 in its adjusted positon upo1rthe bar. Sutably mounted upon the block 8 and working aganst the locking members 11 are 1eaf springs 12 which positvely hold the said lockng members in engagement wth the rack-teeth 6 on the bar 5 untl the said members 11 are released in a manner presently descrbecl.

Swingingly connected to and mounted upon the blook 8 s a cap 18 whoh is of a shape oorresponding to the outer medal porton of the block and s supported for swinging movement upon pvots 13' arranged at one end of the cap, the cap beng out away at 14 to serve as a clearance in the swnging movement thereof.

Loosely connected to the ocking members 11 and also loosely connected to the cap 13 are pu1l links 15 which serve to move the locking members 11 out of engagement with the rack-teeth 6 When the cap is swung from its normal position in contact with the outer face of the b1ock 8 to substantially horizonta1 position and When the cap is in this position it will ho1d the members 11 released from the rack-teeth 6 on the bar 5 so that said block con freely move thereon to any desired adjusted position.

The cap 13 is formed with the finger hold 16 so that the cap con be readily pullecloutwardly for releasing the locking members 11 from engagement with the teeth 6 on the bar 5 to permit free adjustment of the block 8 thereon.

The links 15 are connected with the cap 13 so that when the latter is in horizo-ntal position the locking me1nbers 11 Will be sus tained in releasecl position against 'the resistance of the springs 12 until said cap is mwed to normal position against the block 8.

Formed in the block 8 centrally thereof is a hole 17 which receives the bolt 18 carried by the loop or yoke 10 which extends back owar the rear edge of the doubletree A and is adapted to be secured to a wagon or other vehicle and in this manner the said double tree is hung thereon.

When :t is desired to adjust the double tree so as to equalize the strain upon'the draft animals the cap 13 is taken hold of and the same pulled outwardly away from the block 8. It will be notced that the springs 12 serve not only to hold the locking members 11 in engagement with the ratohet teeth but also assist in holding the pins 13" against the baci: edges of the recesses 17 which are found in the block 8. Therefore by pulling the cap outwnrdly che locking mexnbers are disengaged from the ratchet teeth 6 on the bar 5, the pins 13 sliding in the recesses 17 to allow this. At the same time the cap is thus operated upon, the block 8 can be freely movecl upon the bar either to the right or to the left until the bolt 18 is brought to the desired positon. By removing pressur'e from the cap the locking member 11 Wi1l again engage the ratchet teeth and thus look the block against further movement, and the parts Will be in normal position again.

From the foregoing, it is thoughtthat the bonstruction and manner of operation of the device Will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omtted.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a whiflie tree, an elongated rock bar secured thereagainst, a, slidable block guided upon said rack bar and having its front wa1l slidable upon the teeth of said rack bar, a series of looking members slidably mounted in said slidable block and having points adapted to engage said rack teeth, zvleaf spring secured ai: one end to each end of said block and secured also to said locking members so as to hold the latter aganst the rack teeth, and means secured to said locking members adaptecl to disengage the same-from said raok teeth.

2. In a device of the ola'ss described, in combination, a, whiflletree, a mo]: bar-secured against one edge thereof, a slidable blook slidably guided against said. rack bar, a pair of opposed locking members adapted to engage the teeth of sad rack bar, leaf springs secured to said block andalso to the rear ends of said locking members, 2}, cap adepted to extend opposite said bloeks so as to straddle the sides thereof, said block being formed with side rec'esses, pins carried by said cap end adapted to s1ide in said recesses, link rods pivotally secured to said cap and to the rear ends of said locking members, sad springs normally holding said pins against the baci: wallsof said reoesses and said looking members against said ra.ck teeth, end a handle secured t-o said cap by Which it may be retracted from said block to disengage said locking members. v

In testiinony whereof I affix myysgnature.

EDVVIN WAGNER Ooples of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommssioner ot Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

